I’ve played Mario Kart World for two weeks

Mario Kart World is the Switch 2’s biggest launch title by some distance, but how does it match up to its incredible predecessor? Read our full review to find outMario Kart World is a great Switch 2 launch game(Image: Nintendo)There were more than a few eyebrows raised when Nintendo announced that its new Switch 2 console would be launching with a Mario Kart game.

It’s not that the series isn’t fantastic (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s astonishing sales numbers are testament to its quality), but The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild single-handedly changed perceptions of what a launch title can be for a Nintendo console.

So, is it the “perfect launch title” we thought it was in our preview? Yes, and no. While Mario Kart World is a fantastic game to get for your new console, here’s why you shouldn’t rush to uninstall its predecessor from your Switch 2.

A new Horizon? Not quiteThe open world is fun to explore with friends(Image: Nintendo)The World from the new Mario Kart’s title refers to its new open world mode that lets you drive around the game’s selection of tracks, and all of the roads joining them together, while hunting for secrets.

Many of these come in the form of ‘P’ buttons, offering challenges like reaching a certain point on the map in the quickest time, or avoiding a series of obstacles on a course. They’re all pretty basic, and while some can get pretty devious, Nintendo has done a great job of spacing them out.

Wherever you go, there’s a P button not too far away, but they’re easily ignored if you just want to drive around and take in the sumptuous soundtrack (more on that shortly). The annoyance of having to replay one of these bite-sized is minimised with the ability to reset quickly, but it’s not quite the ‘Mushroom Kingdom Forza Horizon’ we’d hoped for.

Maybe we set ourselves up for disappointment, and there is still plenty to do, but much of it feels hollow compared to the on-track racing.

It’s a KnockoutThere’s no denying the game looks incredible in 4K(Image: Nintendo)Still, an open world does give Nintendo the option to tie together tracks in a new battle royale style ‘Last Kart Standing’ mode called Knockout Tour.

While World is in the game’s name, I’ve spent much more time playing online with friends and strangers alike in this fantastic new mode that if you’d called it Mario Kart Knockout I wouldn’t have batted an eye.

This mode sees 24 racers (up from 8 Deluxe’s 12) speed across a series of courses and the roads in between. Each checkpoint eliminates four karts, meaning all it can take is a perfectly-timed power-up to be the difference between scraping by and suffering the indignation of elimination.

Careening around corners, powersliding with a hair’s thickness between you and the racer in front and trying to work out which of you is going to be eliminated at the next checkpoint easily matches those intense shootouts in PUBG, Warzone, or Fortnite.

Truly GrandEach track certainly looks colourful(Image: Nintendo)Still, top of the main menu is Grand Prix mode, and it’s likely to be here where you’ll spend a lot of your time in Mario Kart World’s early hours.

As before, there are a number of cups to choose from, each with a quartet of tracks, but this time around you’ll complete the full three laps of just the first track. Subsequent tracks involving racing to the next course, then usually completing just the final lap there.

It’s a nice way to break up the structure of races, but it’s fair to say it doesn’t play to the strengths of the circuits on offer. A great example of this is DK Spaceport, a standout track for a number of reasons.

Not only does the track involve climbing a vaguely Donkey Kong-like structure as a big mechanical ape throws barrels upon you, but it culminates in a jump off of the top and a big glide down.

Except, in Grand Prix, it doesn’t. Because it’s the final track of a Grand Prix, you’ll race to DK Spaceport, powerslide around its fantastic course design once, and then it ends as you get to the big jump.

Other tracks, like Boo Cinema, are some of the best the series has ever seen, but you’re pushed out of them before you’ve even had a chance to enjoy their endless charm.

That’s not to say racing between tracks isn’t fun, and there are almost always ways to use the new abilities to get the edge on rivals, but these are essentially long, mostly straight highways with some fun scenery and the occasional hazard—easily the most forgettable part of any GP.

Thankfully, Versus Mode has a whole host of options to choose from when it comes to building out a more bespoke GP, but those looking to find a favourite GP to run when they get 20 minutes might end up a little disappointed.

Raising the ceilingMario Kart 8 Deluxe was a fantastic karting game, but once you put in 20 hours or so, it became a little by-the-numbers.

You jump, pull off a trick, and boost, or powerslide, and boost. There wasn’t really anything further on top of that, something Nintendo has clearly taken to heart this time around.

Social media is already full of wild manoeuvres as karts use the new jumping mechanic to reach new areas, grind on rails, and even wall-ride. The skill ceiling is drastically higher as a result, and that makes a huge difference for the game’s longevity.

Speaking of longevity, Nintendo has added outfit options in Mario Kart World, but unlocking them could take some time. That’s not because they’re difficult, but because they’re seemingly entirely random.

You grab bags of food to unlock an outfit, but there’s no duplicate protection or rhyme or reason for which food appears. Sometimes you’ll just hit a wave of burgers like you’re putting Mario through some kind of Mushroom Kingdom version of Supersize Me, and other times you’ll grab something that unlocks a much cooler outfit.

What came beforeFans have gone wild for the arrival of the Cow as a playable racer(Image: Nintendo)The big question, if you already own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, is whether this new version is an upgrade. After all, the last game saw so many added tracks that it doubled in size.

Mario Kart World will surely see much more consistent post-launch support, but it is sad to see Link from the Zelda series missing, and fewer tracks. It’s perhaps harsh to judge given the length of time Mario Kart 8 Deluxe took to build that library of options, however. Still, seeing racers of such history and importance to Nintendo cast aside to be able to find a spot for Penguin or, um, Sidestepper the Crab is an interesting choice.

One thing that Mario Kart World absolutely dominates any and all of its predecessors with is its soundtrack. After dozens of hours, hundreds of races, and switching between a whole host of characters, I’m not entirely sure I’ve heard everything yet.

It’s a celebration of everything Mario and Mario-related, incorporating long-forgotten boss themes, surprising remixes, and incredible new recordings to offer what might be one of the greatest gaming soundtracks ever made.

The VerdictMario Kart World is a game I’m having a hard time putting down, but not because of its open world. Instead, I’m hooked on learning to get better at mastering its mechanics, tearing through its phenomenal tracks, or just bopping my head to its soundtrack.

I’m not uninstalling Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just yet, though, but I think in time it’ll grow to be an all-timer. For now, though, it’s great.

4/5Review copy provided by the publisher. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.